Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-17
The oyster Question.

To the Editor Of me Dispatch:
see in the Baltimore Weekly Sun OF
December Sd that a memorial is to be
presented to the Maryland Legislature
with reference to the oyster question,
and it is probable that similar memo
rial may be presented to the Virginia
Legislature hence it is not inappro-
pirate at this time to make some COM
ments upon the said memorial and also
some suggestions in regard to I'M
provements or changes in our law that
would be beneficial. The first sugges-
ton in the memorial to prohibit and pre-
vent the expectation of seed oysters
from the State might be beneficial. Ii
the law prevented the taking of oysters
from tie State in the shells it would
give employment to a much greater
number OF our people, and keep the
shells within our limits 20 use for roads,
for lime. and for the purpose of growing
young oysters upon.
The memorial then recommends State
aid towards replenishing the exhausted
or declining oyster-beds OF the State. i
consider such aid useless expenditure
of the public money and calculated To do
more harm than good. 1t is said that
there are millions Of spawn from single
oyster. and it is we'll known that all that
is necessary 10 replenlsh our oyster
beds is to give them little
rest. |! the beds OF the State
could be so divided as to have one years
rest in three, then they would replenish
themselves; but without rest it is i'm
possible 70 replenish them even with the
aid of the State. 1t is suggested in the
memorial that tax be imposed upon
the bushel for Iepayng the money ex-
pended 10y the State. aud for increasing
the areas of oyster-beds. In this State
such an act might be declared unconsti-
tutional IL not, some politicians would
most assuredly persuade those engaged
in the business that no tax ought 10 be
paid, and the law, after auseless expendi-
! ture of money, would be repealed.
The oyster iaw could be changed, how
ever, in such manner rs to increase the
areas OF the beds, to improve the oys-
tiers, and TO produce revenue for the
State. Under the present law planters
and those who would propagate oysters
feel that their titles to the shore for
planting and propagating oysters are in
secure. would recommend that
THE LAW BE so CHANGED
rs to give landowners the privilege OF
taking up as much shore in front of land
owned where there are no natural oys-
ter-rocks or beds for the privilege OF
planting and propagating oysters. L
would require the said landowners to
have the shores surveyed by surveyor
and the boundaries marked by buoys
or stakes and plat OF said
survey to be returned 10 clerks Office OF
the county in which shore is taken and
there recorded. / would have the said
shores assessed at twenty dollars per
acre aud taxed as other real estate.
Give the landowners twelve months in
which to select such land as they need,
and after the expiration OF that time let
any other citizen take up such shore
as is not taken 10y landowner
on his front, and require such other citi-
zens to have surveys made, plats re-
turned, and to pay such taxes as is re-
Quired of the land owner. i would give
the landowners this right because their
lands are now valued at 100 per cent.
more in consequence of having q water
front, and because, as n general rule,
their titles TO shores in front of land have
never been disputed. Under such
"a law tho revenues would he in-
creased, because there would bemore land
assessed upon which taxes would be
paid, the quantity of oysters would be
increased, because parties, feeling a
greater security in the shore, would
plant more and propagate more, and be-
cause parties owning these private beds
would have to employ men to work upon
them, thereby giving the public beds
more time to rest. The quality
of the oysters would be i'm
proved, because large portion OF
them being owned by private individuals
who would give them time TO grow and
become fat, il would necessarily improve
the quality. II such law or something
similar il adopted, so that private indi-
viduals will be encouraged to increase
the quantity and improve the quality Of
the oysters. the members of the Legisla-
ture will be surprised TO find in q few
years how the quality Of the bivalyes
has improved and how cheaply they Can
be purchased. JOHN 9. EwELI.
In the statement that the title of land.
owners to shores in front Of their land
has not az general rule been disputed
mean, OF course, that it has not been
disputed by oyster-planters, and they as
a general rule rent from owners OF adj.
joining land. j. O, K.
Commodore George Brown, the com.
mandant, returned to Norfolk FROM
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